Copy-holder.



PATBNTED JULY 26, 1904.

R. W. BROOKS.

COPY HOLDER.

APPLIUAT ION FILED AUG. 28. 1903.

NO MODEL.

[NVENTOR Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS W. BROOKS, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

COPY-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,725, dated July 26, 1904. Application filed August 28, 1903. Serial No. 171,139. (No model.)

. lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to copy-holders for type-writers; and its object is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus which can be attached to ordinary writing-machines to hold the copy just above the keyboard and which is capable of bringing the lines of matter to be copied successively into proper position.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a typewriter having my devices in position for use therewith, the rear portion of the machine being broken away. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same apparatus. Fig. 3 shows certain feeding devices on a larger scale. Fig. e is an end view of a certain case or frame for holding rolls of copy, together with devices for supporting the case. Fig. 5 is a plan view of parts seen in elevation in Fig. 4.

In the ligures, A represents the frame of an ordinary type-writer, and B any suitable bar or support permanently or detachably fixed to the front of the frame. To this support are secured slotted brackets E, adapted to receive the rear wall O of a rectangular inclined roll-holding frame O, open above and below. In the frame are revolubly mounted two copy-holding rollers I) D, which may be interchangeable and which have certain noncylindrical ends of their shafts I engaged in short shafts I alining with the shafts I and mounted in a bracket B, also fixed to the support B. These short shafts bear at their ends thumb-nuts H H, by which they may be rotated, and the upper one also bears a ratchetwheel G. The ratchet-wheel may be rotated by means of a rod 1, which is attached below to a key-lever J and bears at its upper end a loose pawl K, which engages the ratchet-wheel as often as the rod descends and rotates the upper roller. The pawl is normally held above the point of engagement by a spring L, se-

cured to the rod and resting upon an arm of the bracket B, and in returning to position after being drawn downward the pawl swings slightly to pass over the ratchet-teeth. The arrangement is preferably such that each depression of the key-lever J rotates the roller far enough to advance the copy through a space equal to that occupied by one line of matter; but since such space is not always the same I provide a bar Q to slide vertically in the path of a projection 1 upon the bar I and secure it at any desired height by a set-screw Q, and thereby the descent of the rod I may always be adjusted, so that the copy advances by steps equal to a lines space in the particular instance. Preferably the upper and front sides of the roll-case are covered by a thin sheet N, which may be of metal and which is shown as detachably secured by having its ClOWnWflICllY-bGIlt rear margin engaged in a slot O in the upper ends of the'brackets E and as having slight projections S to rest against the front of the case alongside the copysheet, and thus prevent contact with the latter. This cover N has a slot N in its front side just above the plane of the rear keys, and a plate N is arranged to be lowered over the slot when desired, so that but one line of matter can be seen, thumb-screws N serving to fix the plate in any position to which it may be adjusted. That the rollers may not turn accidentally nor advance too far when the upper one is forced to rotate by the key-lever, rod, and pawl friction-springs R are placed at their ends, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5.

The apparatus being constructed and arranged as described, the copy-sheet is wound upon the lower roller by means not involved in this invention, and this roller is placed in the frame with the free end of the sheet in position to pass from thelower side of the roller upward over the front wall of the case to the upper side of the upper roller, to which it may be attached in any suitable manner. The roll-- ers are then so adjusted by means of the thumbnuts H H that the first line of copy is visible through the slot N, and the bar Q is so set that the feed will be adapted to the spacing of the copy whatever that spacing may be. The operator then begins the writing, and at the end of the line of copy merely strikes the feed-key precisely as he strikes the space-key at the end of each word, thereby bringing a new line into view. He may thus write an entire letter or a page without the slightest interruption or the slightest turning of the head.

It is to be noted that the movement of the eyes, even, is very slight, the line to be written l;)eing at all times no farther from the upper line of keys than thatline is from the next. The inclination of the roller-case brings the copy-sheet more nearly into a plane perpendicular to the line of vision, and thus the copy is more easily read than it would be were the sheet vertical. It is further to be noted that the pawl being normally out of engagement the tluunb-serews enable the operator to turn the copy forward or backward to see what has been written or what is to be written.

What 1 claim is 1. The combination with the frame of a typewriter or the like, of a suitable support fixed to the front of the :frame, a roll-frame detachably engaging and borne by said support,and cop y-carrying rolls revolubly m ounted in said roll-frame.

2. The combination with the frame of a type-writer or the like, of a copy-carrying device detachably mounted upon the front of the f nine, and a cover arranged to conceal all but a narrow lineal segment of the copy and to be detached from the rest of the apparatus at will.

3. The combination with the frame of a type-writer or the like, of a copy-carrying device mounted upon the front of the frame, a removable cover provided with a slot adapting .it for exposing a narrow lineal segment of the copy borne by said device, and means for at will varying the width of said slot.

l. The combination with the frame of a type-writer or the like, of a copy-carrying roll revolubly mounted upon the front of the frame, a roll-operating key, andv devices normally free from the roll and arranged to engage and rotate it as said key is depressed.

The combination with the frame of a type-writer or the like, of a copy-carrying roll revolubly mounted upon the front of the frame, a roll-operating key, devices normally free from the roll and arranged to engage and rotate it as the key is depressed, and independent means" for rotating each roll.

6. The combination with the frame of a type-writer or the like, of a copy-carrying roll revolubly mounted upon the front of the frame, a roll-operating key, devices nori'nally free from the roll and arranged to engage and rotate it when the key is depressed, independent means for rotating the roll, and devices opposing frictional resistance to rotation of the roll.

7 The combination with a ty1')ewriting machine, of slotted brackets secured to its front, a frame removably held in said brackets, rolls revolubly mounted in the frame in position to have a copy-sheet carried from one to the other across the front of said frame, secondary shafts detachabl y engaging the rollsha-fts, respectively, to rotate them, and means operable from the keyboard to rotate one of the secondary shafts.

8. The combination with a type-writing machine, of a pair of copy-carrying rolls mounted upon its front, of means operable from the keyboard for imparting stepbystep rotation to said rollers, and means for at will adjusting the apparatus for such length of steps as may be desired.

9. The combination with a type-writer frame, of two rolls mounted upon the front of the frame with their axes in a plane inclined rearwardly, normally disengaged pawl-andratchet devices for rotating the upper roll from the keyboard, independent devices for rotating either roll at will, and means for at will changing the distance through which the pawl-and-ratchet devices can turn the upper roll at one step.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUFUS \V. BROOKS.

\Vitnesses:

Tnos. KnLL BRADFORD, AUG. \V. BRADFORD. 

